Upper layer protocol selection

ABSTRACT

A network communication selection system includes one or more subsystems to allow network communications with an endpoint device. The system determines whether a data center Ethernet (DCE) capable network is available to communicate with the endpoint device, determines whether the endpoint device is local or remote and selects a network communication protocol from a plurality of network communication protocols to communicate with the endpoint device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to and is a continuation ofco-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/120,485 filedMay 14, 2008 (attorney docket number 16356.1120), the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to information handlingsystems, and more particularly to an upper layer protocol (ULP)selection based on detection of a lossless datacenter Ethernet network.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generallyprocesses, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data forbusiness, personal, or other purposes. Because technology andinformation handling needs and requirements may vary between differentapplications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allowfor IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific usesuch as financial transaction processing, airline reservations,enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and/ornetworking systems.

One common networking system is known as the Ethernet. The Ethernetgenerally makes no provisions for reliability, sophisticated congestionmanagement, or ordered delivery. In fact, as defined today, the Ethernetgenerally deals with data congestion, quality of service (QoS)throttling, and other networking realities and services by simplydropping data frames. As such, Upper Layer Protocols (ULPs) are expectedto make provisions for reliability, if required. QoS refers to resourcereservation control mechanisms rather than the achieved service quality.Thus, QoS is the ability to provide different priority to differentapplications, users, or data flows, or to guarantee a certain level ofperformance to a data flow.

As an example of a provision for reliability, initiator small computersystem interface (iSCSI) is a storage solution typically deployed onEthernet based internet protocol (IP) networks. Storage Area Networks(SANs) are characterized by a requirement for transmission reliability.Today, iSCSI relies on the Layer 4 transmission control protocol (TCP)to provide congestion management to avoid lost data packets and toguarantee transmission reliability to recover in the event of a droppeddata packet. TCP congestion management and reliability capabilities,however, are not without cost. TCP adds additional per packet overheadfor control data, acknowledgement processing, and etc. TCP also requiresadditional processing cycles/copies as data is moved from TCP toapplication memory buffers.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved ULP selectionabsent the disadvantages discussed above.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a network communication selection systemincludes one or more subsystems to allow network communications with anendpoint device. The system determines whether a data center Ethernet(DCE) capable network is available to communicate with the endpointdevice, determines whether the endpoint device is local or remote andselects a network communication protocol from a plurality of networkcommunication protocols to communicate with the endpoint device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an information handling system(IHS).

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a upper layerprotocol (ULP) selection/manipulation system based on detection of alossless datacenter Ethernet network.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of method for ULPselection/manipulation based on detection of a lossless datacenterEthernet network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system (IHS)100 includes any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalitiesoperable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve,originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce,handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data forbusiness, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an IHS100 may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any othersuitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality,and price. The IHS 100 may include random access memory (RAM), one ormore processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) orhardware or software control logic, read only memory (ROM), and/or othertypes of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the IHS 100 mayinclude one or more disk drives, one or more network ports forcommunicating with external devices as well as various input and output(I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The IHS100 may also include one or more buses operable to transmitcommunications between the various hardware components.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one IHS 100. The IHS 100 includes aprocessor 102 such as an Intel Pentium TM series processor or any otherprocessor available. A memory I/O hub chipset 104 (comprising one ormore integrated circuits) connects to processor 102 over a front-sidebus 106. Memory I/O hub 104 provides the processor 102 with access to avariety of resources. Main memory 108 connects to memory I/O hub 104over a memory or data bus. A graphics processor 110 also connects tomemory I/O hub 104, allowing the graphics processor to communicate,e.g., with processor 102 and main memory 108. Graphics processor 110, inturn, provides display signals to a display device 112.

Other resources can also be coupled to the system through the memory I/Ohub 104 using a data bus, including an optical drive 114 or otherremovable-media drive, one or more hard disk drives 116, one or morenetwork interfaces 118, one or more Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports120, and a super I/O controller 122 to provide access to user inputdevices 124, etc. The IHS 100 may also include a solid state drive(SSDs) 126 in place of, or in addition to main memory 108, the opticaldrive 114, and/or a hard disk drive 116. It is understood that any orall of the drive devices 114, 116, and 126 may be located locally withthe IHS 100, located remotely from the IHS 100, and/or they may bevirtual with respect to the IHS 100.

Not all IHSs 100 include each of the components shown in FIG. 1, andother components not shown may exist. Furthermore, some components shownas separate may exist in an integrated package or be integrated in acommon integrated circuit with other components, for example, theprocessor 102 and the memory I/O hub 104 can be combined together. Ascan be appreciated, many systems are expandable, and include or caninclude a variety of components, including redundant or parallelresources.

It should be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that anetwork communication system to communicate, via an IHS 100, using thenetwork interface 118 may communicate via a network using a TCP/IPmodel. The TCP/IP model may include five main layers of operation. Layer1 is known as a physical layer and includes an Ethernet physical layer,modems, optical fiber, coaxial cable, and a variety of physical layeritems. Layer 2 is known as a data link layer and includes DCE, Wi-Fi,Wi-MAX and a variety of data links. Layer 3 is known as anetwork/Internet layer and includes Internet protocol (IP) and a varietyof networks. Layer 4 is known as a transport layer and includes TCP,UDP, and a variety of other transport layer items. Layer 5 is known asan application layer and includes iSCSI, HTTP and a variety ofapplications.

With regard to networking for IHSs, datacenter Ethernet (DCE)technologies enable improved quality of service capabilities, Layer 2based congestion management, and mechanisms to ensure lossless deliveryof Ethernet data frames. DCE generally describes an enhanced Ethernetthat may enable convergence of various applications in data centers(e.g., local area network (LAN), storage area network (SAN), highperformance computing (HPC) and/or a variety of other applications) ontoa single interconnect technology. DCE allows applications that havetraditionally relied on “reliable” ULP protocols, like TCP, forcongestion management and guaranteed delivery to instead rely upon DCEfunctionality at Layer 2 for these capabilities. This, in turn, mayallow applications to use alternate protocols, like UDP, with lowercontrol data and processing overhead when operating in DCE environments.Alternately, protocol processing can be streamlined/shortcut whenoperating on local DCE networks. For example, a “DCE aware” iSCSIimplementation could utilize UDP at Layer 4 to improve performance andreduce processing requirements when operating on a local DCE network.

Using DCE technologies, it is possible for DCE aware applications todetect DCE capability and alter network transmission methodology toachieve higher performance with lower CPU 102 overhead. The presentdisclosure discloses a process by which applications and/or ULPs maychange/manipulate Layer 4 protocol usage to improve IHS 100 performance.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a ULPselection/manipulation system based on detection of a losslessdatacenter Ethernet network. In an embodiment, the IHS 100 includes thefive-layer TCP/IP model including a physical layer 1, 130 (representedas a physical network 140); a data link layer 2, 132 (represented as acoupling between an internet protocol (IP) 142 and the physical network140); a network layer 3, 134 (represented as the internet protocol (IP)142); a transport layer 4, 136 (represented as a TCP switch and/or auser datagram protocol (UDP) 146); and an application layer 5, 138(represented as an initiator small computer system interface (iSCSI)148).

The IHS 100 may communicate with an end device 154 (e.g., another IHS100) by sending data packets through the network interface 118 and aswitch 150. Additionally, the switch 150 may receive data packets frommultiple sources and directs the data packets (e.g., 152A, 152B and152C) to the proper location. In an embodiment, the end device 154includes a TCP switch 156 that returns an acknowledgement to the IHS 100when the proper data packets have been received from the IHS 100. Thetraditional Ethernet does not provide guaranteed delivery of the datapackets. Therefore, in an embodiment a communication link network 119coupling the IHS 100 and the switch 150 is a data center enabledEthernet (DCE). A DCE is an enhanced Ethernet that enables convergenceof various applications in data centers such as LAN, SAN, and/or HPC,into a single interconnect technology. A DCE is generally known aslossless and manages send and receive information, such as requesting“send me the amount of data for however much space or bandwidth isavailable on the communication channel 119.” However, it should beunderstood that other network systems may be used with the presentdisclosure.

In an embodiment, the ULP selection/manipulation system queries thenetwork 119 and decides if the network 119 is a data center Ethernet(DCE), and if so, uses lower processor overhead communication protocolssuch as, user datagram protocol (UDP) rather than transport controlprotocol (TCP) and thus frees up processor 102 capacity. DCE networksgenerally require special switches such as switch 150 to properly passthe data packets (e.g., 152A, 152B, 152C and data packets between theIHS 100 and the end device 154). The special switches 150 (e.g.,switches that allow a UDP communication protocol to be passed throughthe switch 150) should be used and thus the system is less likely todrop/lose the data packets. In an embodiment, if the system detects thatthe system is dropping packets of data, the system may switch back to amore processor intensive communication protocol (e.g., a regularprotocol or TCP/IP having a communication delivery guarantee. Also in anembodiment, a DCE network monitors communication activity and may tellthe sender IHS 100 to slow down communication to avoid dropping datapackets when capacity of the network 119 is full or nearly full.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of a method/process 160for ULP selection/manipulation based on detection of a losslessdatacenter Ethernet network. The method 160 begins at 162 where the IHS100 is operable to communicate via a network 119 to an end device 154via a network 119. The method 160 then proceeds to block 164 where thedata center Ethernet (DCE) becomes aware that an upper layer application(e.g., application layer 5, 138 such as, iSCSI 148) wants to beginnetwork communications with another device, such as, end device 154. Themethod 160 then proceeds to decision block 166 where an upper layerapplication (e.g., iSCSI 148) queries a data link layer 2, 132 todetermine if a DCE network is available for the communication. If no, aDCE network is not available, the method 160 proceeds to block 168 andthe IHS 100 uses a standard protocol processing (e.g., TCP/IP) for thecommunication and the method 160 then ends at block 174. On the otherhand, if yes, a DCE network is available, the method 160 proceeds todecision block 170 where an upper layer application (e.g., iSCSI 148)determines if the desired end point (e.g., end device 154) is local orremote (e.g., within a given network or external to a given network). Ifno, the desired end point is not local, the method 160 proceeds to block168 and the IHS 100 uses a standard protocol processing (e.g., TCP/IP)for the communication and the method 160 then ends at block 174. On theother hand, if yes, the desired endpoint is local, the method 160proceeds to block 172 and the IHS 100 uses a lower processor intensivecommunication protocol (e.g., UDP or a streamlined TCP protocol) for thecommunication and the method 160 ends at block 174.

In decision block 170, the method 160 may determine whether the desiredend-point 154 is local by using Internet control message protocol (ICMP)echo requests and time to live (TTL) measurements. The method 160 mayalso determine whether the desired end-point 154 is local by examiningthe Internet protocol (IP) address and subnet mask.

It should be understood that a TCP is generally a connection-orientedprotocol. This means that upon communication, this protocol requireshandshaking to set up an end-to-end connection. A connection may be madefrom client to server and from then on, any data may be sent along thatconnection. On the other hand, UDP is a more simple message-basedconnectionless protocol where there is generally little or no effort toset up a dedicated end-to-end connection. Communication is achieved bytransmitting information in one direction, from source to destinationwithout checking to see if the destination is still there, or if it isprepared to receive more information. With UDP, data packets cross thenetwork 119 in independent units.

In an embodiment, the node system and/or node system elements may beprogrammed by an administrator manually, or in an automated fashionusing a local or centralized remote policy engine with DCE behaviorpolicies. The node system elements (e.g., applications and/or protocolstacks) query the data-link layer 2, 132 to determine if they are DCEcapable and if they are currently operating on a DCE capable networksegment. As node system elements initiate communications with othernetwork nodes, they may further evaluate the path to determine if thetarget of their communications are local to the DCE capable segment oron a remote subnet that may or may not be DCE capable. Based on detectedDCE capability, target node locality, policy data established and avariety of other features, the node system/node system elements mayattempt to initiate communications by selecting a transport layer 4, 136protocol (e.g., TCP or UDP) most appropriate for current conditions andby manipulating protocol processing to lower processing requirementsgiven the DCE capabilities. It should be understood that because thetarget network node is capable of supporting the protocol selectionand/or modified protocol processing selected, communications shouldproceed in operable communication. In an embodiment, ULPs/Applicationsmay also choose to renegotiate connectivity “up/down” with alternateprotocols or streamlined protocol processing based on measurementsassociated with lower-layer robustness or lack thereof.

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a widerange of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of theembodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of theembodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:a network interface that is configured to connect to a network segment;a delivery protocol selection system coupled to the network interface,wherein the delivery protocol selection system is configured, forcommunications with an endpoint device, to: determine whether a networksegment connected to the network interface provides for guaranteeddelivery of data; determine whether the endpoint device is within thenetwork segment; and select a network communication protocol from aplurality of network communication protocols to provide thecommunications with the endpoint device; wherein the networkcommunication protocol selected is a guaranteed delivery protocol whenthe network segment does not provide for guaranteed delivery of data orwhen the endpoint device is not within the network segment; and whereinthe network communication protocol selected is a non-guaranteed deliveryprotocol when the network segment provides for guaranteed delivery ofdata and when the endpoint device is within the network segment.
 2. TheIHS of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the endpoint device iswithin the network segment includes at least one of: using an Internetcontrol message protocol (ICMP) echo request and a time to live (TTL)measurement, and examining an Internet Protocol (IP) address and asubnet mask.
 3. The IHS of claim 1, wherein the guaranteed deliveryprotocol is a transmission control protocol (TCP), and thenon-guaranteed delivery protocol is a user datagram protocol (UDP). 4.The IHS of claim 1, further comprising: a processor coupled to thenetwork interface and the delivery protocol selection system; whereinthe processor is configured to provide a first amount of processorcapacity for protocol processing in response to the selection of theguaranteed delivery protocol; and wherein the processor is configured toprovide a second amount of processor capacity for protocol processing inresponse to the selection of the non-guaranteed delivery protocol,wherein the second amount of processor capacity for protocol processingis lower than the first amount of processor capacity for protocolprocessing.
 5. The IHS of claim 1, further comprising: a storage areanetwork (SAN) that is configured to provide the communications with theendpoint device.
 6. The IHS of claim 5, wherein the SAN is configured toprovide the communications with the endpoint device using the InternetSmall Computer System Interface (iSCSI) protocol.
 7. The IHS of claim 1,wherein the delivery protocol selection system is configured to: detectthat the communications with the endpoint device are not being deliveredto the endpoint device and, in response, change the networkcommunication protocol from the non-guaranteed delivery protocol to theguaranteed delivery protocol.
 8. An information handling system (IHS),comprising: a processing system configured to provide protocolprocessing for communications with an endpoint device; a networkinterface that is configured to connect to a network segment; a protocolprocessing instruction system coupled to the processing system and thenetwork interface, wherein the protocol processing instruction system isconfigured, for communications with an endpoint device, to: determinewhether a network segment connected to the network interface providesfor guaranteed delivery of data; determine whether the endpoint deviceis within the network segment; and instruct the processing system toprovide protocol processing for the communications with the endpointdevice; wherein the instructing the processing system to provideprotocol processing for the communications with the endpoint devicecauses the processing system to provide a first amount of processorcapacity for protocol processing when the network segment does notprovide for guaranteed delivery of data or when the endpoint device isnot within the network segment, and wherein the first amount ofprocessor capacity for protocol processing provides for the reliabilityof the transmission of the communications with the endpoint device; andwherein the instructing the processing system to provide protocolprocessing for the communications with the endpoint device causes theprocessing system to provide a second amount of processor capacity forprotocol processing when the network segment provides for guaranteeddelivery of data and when the endpoint device is within the networksegment, and wherein the second amount of processor capacity forprotocol processing is less than the first amount of processor capacityfor protocol processing due to the second amount of processor capacityfor protocol processing not providing for the reliability of thetransmission of the communications with the endpoint device.
 9. The IHSof claim 8, wherein the determining whether the endpoint device iswithin the network segment includes at least one of: using an Internetcontrol message protocol (ICMP) echo request and a time to live (TTL)measurement, and examining an Internet Protocol (IP) address and asubnet mask.
 10. The IHS of claim 8, wherein the instructing theprocessing system to provide protocol processing for the communicationswith the endpoint device that causes the processing system to provide afirst amount of processor capacity for protocol processing includesselecting a guaranteed delivery network communication protocol for useby the processing system, and wherein the instructing the processingsystem to provide protocol processing for the communications with theendpoint device that causes the processing system to provide a secondamount of processor capacity for protocol processing includes selectinga non-guaranteed delivery network communications protocol for use by theprocessing system.
 11. The IHS of claim 9, wherein the guaranteeddelivery network communication protocol is a transmission controlprotocol (TCP), and the non-guaranteed delivery network communicationsprotocol is a user datagram protocol (UDP).
 12. The IHS of claim 8,further comprising: a storage area network (SAN) that is configured toprovide the communications with the endpoint device.
 13. The IHS ofclaim 12, wherein the SAN is configured to provide the communicationswith the endpoint device using the Internet Small Computer SystemInterface (iSCSI) protocol.
 14. The IHS of claim 8, wherein the protocolprocessing instruction system is configured to: detect that thecommunications with the endpoint device are not being delivered to theendpoint device; and increase the amount of processor capacity providedby the processing system for protocol processing from the second amountof processor capacity such that the protocol processing provided by theprocessing system provides for the reliability of the transmission ofthe communications with the endpoint device.
 15. A method forcommunicating with an endpoint device, the method comprising:determining whether a network segment connected to a network interfaceprovides for guaranteed delivery of data; determining whether anendpoint device is within the network segment; and instructing aprocessing system to provide protocol processing for communications withthe endpoint device; wherein the instructing the processing system toprovide protocol processing for the communications with the endpointdevice causes the processing system to provide a first amount ofprocessor capacity for protocol processing when the network segment doesnot provide for guaranteed delivery of data or when the endpoint deviceis not within the network segment, and wherein the first amount ofprocessor capacity for protocol processing provides for the reliabilityof the transmission of the communications with the endpoint device; andwherein the instructing the processing system to provide protocolprocessing for the communications with the endpoint device causes theprocessing system to provide a second amount of processor capacity forprotocol processing when the network segment provides for guaranteeddelivery of data and when the endpoint device is within the networksegment, and wherein the second amount of processor capacity forprotocol processing is less than the first amount of processor capacityfor protocol processing due to the second amount of processor capacityfor protocol processing not providing for the reliability of thetransmission of the communications with the endpoint device.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the instructing the processing system toprovide protocol processing for the communications with the endpointdevice that causes the processing system to provide a first amount ofprocessor capacity for protocol processing includes selecting aguaranteed delivery network communication protocol for use by theprocessing system, and wherein the instructing the processing system toprovide protocol processing for the communications with the endpointdevice that causes the processing system to provide a second amount ofprocessor capacity for protocol processing includes selecting anon-guaranteed delivery network communications protocol for use by theprocessing system.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the guaranteeddelivery network communication protocol is a transmission controlprotocol (TCP), and the non-guaranteed delivery network communicationsprotocol is a user datagram protocol (UDP).
 18. The method of claim 15,wherein the communications with the endpoint device are provided bystorage area network (SAN).
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the SANprovides the communications with the endpoint device using the InternetSmall Computer System Interface (iSCSI) protocol.
 20. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising: detecting that the communications with theendpoint device are not being delivered to the endpoint device; andincreasing the amount of processor capacity provided by the processingsystem for protocol processing from the second amount of processorcapacity such that the protocol processing provided by the processingsystem provides for the reliability of the transmission of thecommunications with the endpoint device.